Nursing is a rewarding career, offering a wide variety of roles and settings where you can use your skills. Primary care is a popular area for nurses to practice in. It provides plenty of contact with patients, and because of its long-term nature, it’s possible to build up relationships with them over time.
It will also test your skills and expertise as a nurse as you’ll see patients of all ages with a range of health conditions. These aspects make it a challenging and fulfilling area of nursing – one where you can grow your skills and branch out into other areas of nursing.
If you’re thinking of nursing as a career and are intrigued by the opportunities primary care can offer, then this article is for you. It will inform you about the role of nurses in primary care settings and will explain how to progress to entry-level nursing practice with confidence.
What is primary care?
The term “primary care” refers to integrated health services that serve patients’ needs within the community and in a family setting. It includes going to your local health clinic or doctor’s office for regular check-ups or if you have a specific health concern that doesn’t require emergency treatment.
You may see a family or internal medicine doctor or a clinician who specializes in a particular area of healthcare – for example an obstetrician/gynecologist for women’s reproductive health or a geriatrician who takes care of older adults.
In primary care you will also come across many different healthcare professional roles, from doctors and physician assistants to nurses at all levels of seniority.
There’s also a strong focus on wellness – just as much as on healing illnesses, in fact. So, primary care also includes things like vaccinations to keep you from falling ill, screenings to check for signs of disease, and looking at your family history and lifestyle to know your health risk factors.
One of the other defining aspects of primary care is that clinicians like doctors and nurses develop relationships with their patients over a long period of time. This makes it a rewarding working environment for healthcare professionals, where they can build up a rapport with their patients and track their progress over the long-term.
What do primary care nurses do?
Nurses play a pivotal role in primary care, offering their expertise across a wide range of tasks.
Typically, a primary care nurse will support doctors and other staff in primary care offices and health centers. Their role here will include conducting physical exams before patients see their doctor. These exams involve measuring height, weight, and vital signs. They may also note any symptoms or signs of ill health.
Once a patient has been seen and diagnosed by their doctor, primary care nurses may take blood or other samples and administer treatment, for example by giving medication or dressing a wound. Their role has a strong focus on preventing ill health, so they may be involved in giving vaccinations or offering check-ups to patients so that they can keep track of their health goals.
A nurse’s role may develop and grow with additional study, qualifications, and experience. They may progress to work as an advanced practice registered nurse, like a nurse practitioner, for example. In this role they can diagnose and treat a range of health issues, write treatment plans, and prescribe medication without the need for a doctor being present.
This type of more senior role means that they can set up their own practice, giving them the satisfaction of independence and autonomous working.
A senior primary care nurse may also be involved in improving the healthcare experience for patients, working on ways to offer better quality and more streamlined care.
How can I get into nursing in primary care?
If you love the idea of working with a variety of patients and rising to the challenges of primary care, then your first step will be to enroll on an accredited registered nurse program, for example a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
Your next step will be to pass your NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). This is the exam students take once they’ve graduated from a nursing program, which enables them to receive a nursing license and start practicing nursing.
It’s designed to test candidates’ clinical judgement and decision-making skills so that you can work as a nurse confidently and safely.
To get ready, you can enroll in an NCLEX prep course that will offer you the support and guidance you need to progress to the next stage of your career. If you’re wondering how to fit in extra study alongside your existing commitments, then why not consider an online Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a strong focus on NCLEX preparation?
The Distance ABSN offered by Baylor University is ideal for anyone who’s keen to start their career as a registered nurse but wants the freedom and flexibility to study in the location and at the time of their choice. As well as giving you a grounding in the fundamental elements of nursing care, it will also ensure that you are ready to take the NCLEX exam. The course has a high pass rate, which is just one of the many benefits of going for this option.
As part of the course, you will undertake clinical placements and experience lab work too, making it an ideal mix of learning by theory and practice. Because much of the learning is online, you’ll be able to study at your own pace and wherever you feel most comfortable. Program completion is possible in one year, so it’s ideal for anyone keen to get started on their nursing career.
Fulfill your dream of practicing in primary care
For anyone considering a career in nursing, primary care makes a great choice. It will offer you a wide variety of tasks to perform and many opportunities to progress your career to a senior level.
One of the many factors that nurses love about primary care is that they get to spend time with their patients, getting to know them and their health aspirations. This makes it an especially rewarding pathway for newly-registered nurses looking to make their way in the field of healthcare.
A convenient and supported route to working in primary care is through an online ABSN program, just like the one offered by Baylor University. When you embark on this program, you can be reassured that you will be supported and guided through the course content and prepared for the NCLEX exam so that you can fulfill your dream of practicing in primary care without delay.
